www.925-1000.com

I have a silver dish hallmarked with the toucans head, letter w and the number 4, it also has 800 for the silver. I understand this to be manufactured in Vienna after 1922. It also has a maker mark of the four leaf clover mark for Alexander Sturm. The dish is 15cms diameter and the base is 8 cms diameter. My question is who designed the dish. I understand that Sturm manufactured silverware for various designers, could this dish be a design of Otto Prutscher or Josef Hoffmann? Does anyone have any ideas?
Thank you,
Trevor
http://i51.tinypic.com/2u7q64h.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/2ljgi2t.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/351wqwg.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/sq6vpx.jpg

(admin photo edit - images too large - link only - see Posting Requirements )

Hi,

The photo's are not clear.

Regards,

Zilverik

Hi,

I clicked on the links and they opened OK but will try again as below to reduce the size of image.

Thanks for your response and interest.
Trevor

Hi Trevor,

In 1903 Josef Hoffmann stopped his cooperation with Alexander Sturm. Only some of the (mostly radical) designs he made for Alexander Sturm he took to production in the Wiener Werkstatte. I have not found evidence that Otto Prutscher ever worked for Alexander Sturm. The tucans head is used since 1925 (august 3). So all together it is not very likely that Alexander Sturm these designs are from Hoffmann or Prutscher.

Regards,

Zilverik

If I recall correctly from researching a bowl in my collection, the Sturm archives indicate they were producing Prutscher designs in the 1920s-40s, as well as some Hoffmann and Haerdtl designs dating a bit later in the same era. Some of their designs are being reproduced from the archived drawings by Wiener Silber Manufactur.

~Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

Your research is very interesting. Where did you found your info?

Regards,

Zilverik

Very little time to respond at the moment and not at home to check my notes, but there was a European museum exhibition on Sturm a few years ago, and additional contact with Wiener Silber Manufactor (it had a slightly different name at that point), who took over Sturm's business, also obtained their extensive archives.

~Cheryl

This was my understanding also. Whilst collaboration with Hoffmann and Prutscher was on hold during the second world war it recommenced afterwards. See attached link.

http://www.ottowagner.com/special-exhib ... urm-en-US/

Regards,
Trevor